Anne V’s signature aughts blonde bombshell aesthetic has made her a steady, unmatched presence in fashion. Although her focus has grown to take on larger initiatives, including activism and charitable work for organizations such as (RED), Mothers 2 Mothers, and Model Alliance, among others—while also being a certified yoga instructor—there’s no denying that fashion will always embrace her.

V: What has modeling taught you personally?

Anne V: Modeling has taught me surrender and trust. Over a 25-year career, there have been incredible highs and also difficult moments. I’ve learned that models are chosen — or not chosen — for countless reasons, many of which are completely out of your control. Over time, those peaks and valleys taught me gratitude. They taught me not to force things, but to trust timing and trust the path unfolding in front of me. I’ve come to believe that the universe has a plan for each of us, and that the opportunities, magic, and experiences meant for us arrive exactly when we are ready to receive them. 

V: What do you want people to understand about modeling that they often don’t?

AV: People often think modeling is just about the model, but for me, it has always been about collaboration and energy. Every image is the result of so many creative forces coming together — photographers, stylists, makeup artists, hair stylists, casting directors, agents, and entire teams all contributing their vision and emotion. Fashion is magical. When the energy is right, something extraordinary happens between people. I always say it’s like a relationship: one plus one doesn’t equal two — it equals eleven. The final image becomes something bigger than any one individual could have created alone. That’s the beauty of this industry to me. It’s collective creativity transformed into emotion, art, and storytelling.

V: How has the modeling industry changed over the course of your career?

AV: The industry has changed enormously over the last twenty years, especially in terms of diversity and representation. When I started, models were often expected to simply be beautiful faces. Today, there is far more space for individuality, personality, culture, and voice. Models are expected to be multidimensional human beings, and I think that evolution is incredibly important. Looking ahead, I hope the industry continues moving toward both creativity and professionalism. I would love to see stronger mentorship for younger models, more career longevity, and more of the traditional protections and benefits that exist in other professions — things like healthcare, stability, and long-term support. And of course, AI is now part of the conversation. But I truly believe there is something irreplaceable about human presence and creativity. Technology can imitate many things, but it cannot recreate soul, emotion, or the human spark that real people bring to an image. That magic will always matter.

This cover story appears in the pages of V161: now available for purchase!

Photography Luigi & Iango

Fashion B. Åkerlund

Creative Director / Editor-in-Chief Stephen Gan

Model Anne V (The Lions)

Casting Maxime Valentini (2b Management)

Makeup Georgi Sandev (Forward Artists) 

Hair Lauren Berrones (Home Agency) 

Manicure Leanne Woodley (See Management) using CND

Fashion Market Editor Copelyn Bengel

Styling Support Elanur Erdoğan (Forward Artists)

Producer Louis Guillemain (2b Management)

Cinematographer Santiago Montes

Photo Assistant Francisco Betancourt

Makeup Assistants Chloe Yang, Jack Titcomb

Fashion Assistant Evan James

Production Assistants Juliet Lloyd, Angelina Aliano, Maksim Doraev